Backstage Entries

There was only one reason why I had been delaying penning down this account. How can you describe an event that was so beautifully magical and as perfect as it could get, without the risk of not doing justice to the entire experience :) So please bear with this longish narrative ! Preparation : With the regime of yoga & jogging on alternate days, I was hoping that I would not be struggling too much on the Sandakphu-Phalut trek, which was rated “Moderate” mainly because of extremely long walks on the rough & hilly terrain. This one had been on my list since forever, mostly because the idea of walking alongside of the magnificent “Sleeping Buddha” had an intriguing appeal. Day 0  I’d booked my travel to NJP on Kamakhya Exp, which had a slotted departure time of 11:30PM, but was delayed at source by 6 hours. Spent an uncomfortable night at the station, with the wait ending at around 5 AM, when the train finally rolled in. Killed time alternating between sleepi...

Exhilarating! Breathtaking ! Absolutely Fantastic! Words fall short to describe the 4 days of trek to Kedarkantha summit , a journey, that was like a breath of fresh air, breaking the monotony of our mundane lives, giving us the instant boost and a treasure trove of memories! Want to pen down the experience, before it starts to fade gradually, till only the faint highlights remain, of what was one of the best experiences of my life. Day 0: We prepared to leave for Dehradun by train from New Delhi.  Sleepy, since the train scheduled to depart at 11:50 PM, is usually late by 15-20 mins. Day 1: Reached Dehradun. Pickup organized by Indiahkes team. Dehradun station is the pickup point for several treks – Nag Tibba, Har Ki Dun & Kedarkantha. Seeing fellow trekkers, with the standard decathlon gear gives rise to a feeling of camaraderie. Couple of enquiries later, 3 of us are in a bolero, accompanied by 2 guys from Indore, on our way to a quaint village by the...

" Once you are in the mountains ,there is no such thing as an easy trek !" Those were the words from our trek leader, as we kicked off a 2 day trek to Nag Tibba . 10 minutes later, I couldn't agree more ! ( for different reasons though ;) ) In hindsight, 3 lessons learnt: 1. Prepare : Fitness requirements not to be taken lightly  ( It would be a much more enjoyable experience, when you are not huffing and panting, wondering how on earth you would to climb up to 10000 ft, with heart pounding & lungs on the verge of collapse after every 20 steps ) 2. Friends  : Go with people who are fun ( unless you are one of those out and out extroverts, who can make friends , whenever-wherever !!) 3. Shoes    : Invest in a good pair. It can make or break your trek. (I would have been dead and gone esp. During the descend, otherwise ) Bottom line :   Trekking is your time out in the wilderness, testing / pushing your limits. It is not fo...